Index card and signal



June 15, 1948. P. R; SMITH 2,443,522

INDEX CARD AND SIGNAL Filed NOV- 13, 1944 Patented June 15, 1948 UNITED? STATES PATENT OFFICE Perry R. Smith, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Acme Visible Records, Inc., Chicago, 111., a, corporation of Delaware r 7 Application November 13, 1944, Serial No. 563,191

4 Claims. (01. lee-16.8)

This invention relates to index cards and is more particularly concerned with index cards provided withsignalsfor detachable engagement at spaced intervals to the'upper edges thereof,

and in which the signals are provided with-apertures for engagement by a selectorrod for selecting certain cards from a card index file.

In the use of a card index system in which the cards are provided with signals of the type hereinafter described, the signals are mounted in predetermined positions along the upper edges of their respective cards to permit the selection of cards bearing corresponding information by merelyinserting a selector rod through the apertures of the aligning signals. This type of index system is well known and the present invention is more particularly concerned with an improved signal and card construction which facilitates the mounting of the signals on the cards.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a signal construction having a smooth outline, free of shoulders or other protuberances which might interferewith the replacement of a card in a card index file.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved means for mounting signals on cards in order to prevent relative movement between same. In some forms of signal mountings for index cards, the signals are not always tightly engaged to the cards and thereby permit misallgnmentof the selector rod apertures provided in the signals.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a pair of recesses in the lower edge of each index card for mounting same upon longitudinally extending rods of a card index file. If desired, additional recesses may be formed in the bottom edges of the index cards for lateral adjustment of same with respect to the longitudinal bars.

This invention further contemplates the provision of index cards provided with means along the bottom edges for increasing the thicknesses thereof to correspond with the thickness of the signal attached to the upper edge of the card. The cards are thus disposed in parallel alignment within an index card file and do not have a. tendency to fan out at the upper edges thereof.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter shown and described in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing an 2 index card and signal embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view showing a modified form of this invention in which the lower edge of the card is thickened to correspond with the thickness of the signal mounted on the upper edge thereof. Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention, the index card is shown as preferably comprising a square or rectangular sheet 6 of flexible material, such as cardboard, formed with a plurality of U-shaped ably positioning the cards laterally.

A signal l3 formed of strip material is provided for mounting in one of the recesses 8 and has its ends l4 and I5 upturned and disposed in spaced parallel relation for tight engagement against opposite sides of the index card 6. The leg I4 is formed with an inwardly pressed annular flange Hi to define a selector rod recess ll. The outer periphery of the annular flange I6 is formed to snugly engage within the wall of a recess l8 formed in the leg l5, and. the outer end of said flange terminates flush with the outer surface of the leg I5.

By mounting the signal in one of the apertures 8 and providing an annular flange thereon for engagement with the side walls of a recess 1, the signal is firmly secured against relative movement with respect to its index card and insures that the selector rod apertures I1 will always be in proper alignment throughout the index file.

It will also be observed that the signal is formed free of objectionable shoulders which might interfere with re-insertion of the cards in the index file.

By thickening the lower edge of the index cards at Is to correspond to the thickness of the signals, as shown in Fig. 4, the several cards within the index file are maintained in parallel alignment and do not have a tendency to fan out at the upper edges thereof.

While this invention has been shown in but two forms, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I laim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described, an index card, said card having recesses formed in the upper edge thereof, said card having aper tures disposed in spaced horizontal alignment adjacent the upper edge thereof, said apertures being in vertical alignment with their respective recesses, a signal mounted in a selected one of the apertures provided in the index card, said signal comprising a strip of material having its endsv Ibent upwardly into engagement against opposite sides of the index card, one of the ends of said strip having an aperture defined by an annular flange, and the other end of said strip having an aperture receiving said flange, said annular flange being in engagement Within the corresponding recess formed in the upper edge of the index card.

2. In a device of the character described, an index card, said card having recesses formed in the upper edge thereof, said card having apertures disposed in spaced horizontal alignment adjacent the upper edge thereof, said apertures being in vertical alignment with their respective recesses, a signal mounted in a selected one of the apertures provided in the index card, said signal comprising a strip of material having its ends bent upwardly into engagement against opposite sides of the index card, one of the ends of said strip having an aperture defined by an annular flange, and the other end of said strip having an aperture receiving said flange, said annular flange being in engagement within the corresponding recess formed in the upper edge of the index card, said index card having its lower edge corresponding in thickness to the thickness of said signal.

3. In a, device of the character described, an index card formed with a recess in its upper edge and a cooperating aperture, a signal comprising a strip of flexible material mounted in said aperture and bent on itself to form legs arranged in spaced parallel alignment for snug clamping engagement against opposite sides of said index card, an annular flange pressed inwardly from one of said legs for engagement within the recess of said card, said flange defining a selector rod aperture, and the other of said legs having an aperture disposed in alignment with said selector rod aperture.

4. In a device of the character described, an index card formed with a recess in its upper edge and a cooperating aperture, a signal comprising astrip of flexible material mounted in said aperture and bent on itself to form legs of unequal length arranged in spaced parallel alignment for snug clamping engagement against opposite sides of said index card, an annular flange pressed inwardly from one of said legs for engagement within the recess of said card, said flange defining a selector rod aperture, and the I other of said legs having an aperture receiving and snugly engaging said annular flange.

PERRY R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 885,482 Johnson Apr. 21, 1908 905,319 Hunter Dec. 1, 1908 941,273 Ralph Nov. 23, 1969 999,991 Hargrave Aug. 8, 1911 1,008,352 Meyers Nov. 14, 1911 1,114,518 Ralph Oct. 20, 1914 1,127,481 Mays Feb. 9, 1915 1,332,954 Ringler Mar. 9, 1920 1,550,838 Parker Aug. 25, 1925 1,753,334 Schleifer May 13, 1930 1,816,344 Schleifer July 28, 1931 2,260,069 Whitson Oct. 21, 1941 2,336,572 Schuessler Dec. 14, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 154,336 Great Britain 1920 522,386

Great Britain 1940 

